The best travel photograph ever taken was probably shot on someone's phone. Gear matters less than timing, composition, and the willingness to wake up before everyone else.

1. Chase the Golden Hours

The hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset give you warm, directional light that makes everything look cinematic. The same Taj Mahal that looks flat at noon becomes breathtaking at 7am.

2. Rule of Thirds

Divide your frame into a 3x3 grid. Place your main subject at one of the four intersection points rather than dead centre. Then break this rule intentionally for specific effects.

3. Find Foreground Interest

A photograph of the Eiffel Tower is forgettable. A photograph of a child pointing at it is a story. Look for objects or people in the foreground that add depth and context.

4. Get Low

Most amateur photographers shoot from standing eye height. Get down — to ground level, crouching, below the subject. The world looks different from there.

5. Embrace Bad Weather

Grey skies and rain produce moody, dramatic images that clear blue skies never can. Fog over Machu Picchu makes it mysterious. Carry a rain cover and embrace the forecast.

6. Edit with Restraint

The best travel editing enhances what was there rather than replacing it. Lift shadows, reduce highlights, add a little clarity. Resist pumping saturation until a beach looks like a Skittles advertisement.